as in detectives
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the popular TV sleuth lives a much more action-packed life than do his real-world counterparts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleuths
That name is so common in England that searching for it would leave sleuths acting on a tip chasing endless possibilities.
—
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
An army of amateur online sleuths has been parsing Burke’s lyrics, interviews and social media posts for clues, and the case has resulted in headlines in publications from the Los Angeles Times to the New York Post.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The investigation in the film becomes almost collaborative — with sleuths, researchers and the LAPD all involved.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Zeigler has always maintained his innocence and has filed many appeals in a case that has fascinated the public and led to television shows, books, documentaries and a variety of crime sleuths tossing up theories.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
But what got internet sleuths hung up is how Alfonzo reportedly hit shelves months ahead of Thriller.
—Greg Poole, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026
Social-media sleuths noted that the Dolphins did not give Tagovailoa an online happy birthday wish on Monday.
—Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Yet Internet sleuths and royal watchers continued to wonder whether Markle had been denied another tiara from the crown’s massive collection—the prime suspect being the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, which Princess Eugenie wore for her own wedding later that year.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
Morgan’s abduction and killing have been covered by countless true-crime podcasts and publications, a source of fascination for amateur web sleuths trying to figure out what authorities may have missed.
—Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Feb. 2026
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
An army of amateur online sleuths has been parsing Burke’s lyrics, interviews and social media posts for clues, and the case has resulted in headlines in publications from the Los Angeles Times to the New York Post.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The investigation in the film becomes almost collaborative — with sleuths, researchers and the LAPD all involved.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Zeigler has always maintained his innocence and has filed many appeals in a case that has fascinated the public and led to television shows, books, documentaries and a variety of crime sleuths tossing up theories.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
But what got internet sleuths hung up is how Alfonzo reportedly hit shelves months ahead of Thriller.
—Greg Poole, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026
Social-media sleuths noted that the Dolphins did not give Tagovailoa an online happy birthday wish on Monday.
—Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Yet Internet sleuths and royal watchers continued to wonder whether Markle had been denied another tiara from the crown’s massive collection—the prime suspect being the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, which Princess Eugenie wore for her own wedding later that year.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
Morgan’s abduction and killing have been covered by countless true-crime podcasts and publications, a source of fascination for amateur web sleuths trying to figure out what authorities may have missed.
—Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuths
Noun
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The man was taken in for questioning as Calumet Area detectives investigated.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2026
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Investigators learned on Tuesday that Lickhart had died from her injuries, and homicide detectives took over the case, DiMartino said.—
Nathan Pilling
March 17,
Kansas City Star,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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An attack on a Michigan synagogue and a deadly shooting at a Virginia university, with investigators looking at the war in Iran as possible motivation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
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One of those interviews would lead a team of cybersecurity investigators to the inner workings of a vast North Korean employment scheme with national security implications.—
Lisa Cavazuti,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleuths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuths. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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